Valletta, Malta’s capital city, is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and elegant cities in Europe. A masterpiece of Baroque architecture, it is one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world, boasting some of Europe's finest palaces and churches, as well as numerous museums.
Following their heroic defence of Malta during the Great Siege of 1565, the Knights of St. John set about constructing a new, impregnable fortress city, named after its founder and hero of the siege, the French Grand Master Jean de Valette. Over the ensuing centuries, the new city was embellished with an impressive array of buildings, designed by some of the best European architects of the era and filled with priceless works of art. Today, Valletta is Malta’s main administrative and commercial centre. The city is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and European Capital of Culture 2018.
On this tour we will visit the highlights areas of Valletta while also visiting an often ignored but equally fascinating part of Valletta. The tour starts at the modernised entrance of Valletta while walking along the majestic streets of the city, with our guides pointing out all the main landmarks while keeping you entertained with fascinating not so well known true stories. What was it like to be a patient at the Holy Infirmatory? Or a galley slave on the ships of the Order? Were all Knights behaving in accordance to their vows?
We'll be walking past the most notable sites in Valletta: